NaNoWriMo Write-ins

My National Novel Writing Month project has a word count of 40,110, which puts me right on track to get to 50,000 words on November 30. This is only about the third day all month that I've been on track, but now that we're near the end, I'm pretty confident that I can complete it.

One of the reasons for my confidence is that I still have two more write-ins left. A big part of the fun of NaNoWriMo is that it takes what would normally be a lonely activity and makes it a social one. I have surprised myself by making more use of the in-person social opportunities than I have the NaNoWriMo forums. The forums are a bit overwhelming, especially when I'm already performing the overwhelming task of writing a 50,000 word novel in a month. But the write-ins have been a guaranteed way for me to get a lot of words written and to commiserate with people who have similar problems to mine (I keep running out of plot!).

From the first time I heard of NaNoWriMo, I have thought that libraries would be a good place for write-ins. Nearly all of the St. Louis area write-ins happen at restaurants. The only exceptions that I have noted are one person's apartment and a church basement. The restaurants have some advantages--easily available food and drinks, table space, reasonably comfortable chairs. But there's also a built-in disadvantage. We all feel obligated to buy a little something since were taking up so much space for so long. Libraries could provide the tables and chairs while allowing but not obligating the presence of food and drinks.

The most effective way for a library to become involved in the local write-in scene is to have one or more staff members participate in NaNoWriMo. Then, they could set up write-ins at the library the way the rest of us would set one up at a local coffee shop.

Barring employee participation, a library would want to contact the Municipal Liason. Volunteers in each region take the responsibility to be the ML -- a liason between regional participants and the NaNoWriMo organization. The MLs answer questions, provide encouragement, and set up at least one weekly write-in. The ML Contact Form has a drop-down box with all the regions that have Municipal Liasons. Early in December might be a good time to contact the ML of your region. Right now, they are madly trying to complete their own NaNoWriMo project while encouraging everyone else in their region to do the same. By early December, they might be willing to have a conversation with a library staff member about how the library could help with next year's NaNoWriMo.     #

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